Brushing

Brush daily for at least two minutes in the morning and again after your last meal of the day. Proper technique requires placing the toothbrush at a 45 degree angle to the tooth with the bristles facing the gum-line. Rotate the brush in small circles starting in one corner of the mouth and work your way around the entire mouth. The bristles of the brush should be soft and the toothpaste should contain fluoride. I recommend the Sonicare SOLO 4800 Series toothbrush (www.Sonicare.com), because it can reach difficult locations and runs on a two minute cycle that guarantees all parts of the mouth receive equal attention.

Flossing

Floss your teeth at least once a day before going to bed. Begin with approximately 24 inches of floss and bring it between the teeth and to the gum line. Wrap the piece of floss around one side of the tooth and move it back and forth next to the gums. Next, wrap the floss around the other side of the tooth using the same motion. Make sure you use a clean section of the 24 inch piece of floss for each tooth.

Diet

Sugar from candy, cookies and desserts damages teeth and gums. Fruit, on the other hand, helps clean the mouth. Avoid drinking coffee with sugar, or sugar filled colas over a long period of time. The longer your teeth are exposed to sugar, the more damage is done. The best diet for your mouth is very similar to the best diet for your body. Avoid refined sugar and eat plenty of fruits and vegetables.

Occlusal Wear

Patients showing tooth wear from grinding, clenching, or bruxism need to wear a night-time protection appliance after treatment.  It is critical that patients wear their appliance when they sleep for three reasons:

• It protects the teeth from further wear
• It serves as a retainer to keep the teeth from moving
• It is friendly to the TMJ by relieving pressure on the joint

When these patients are examined at recall, Dr. Wampler confirms that there have been no changes.